Red Sea undersea cable cuts that slowed internet over the weekend blamed on commercial shipping — sabotage seems unlikely, but repairs could take weeks

Experts believe that the recent undersea cable disruptions in the Red Sea, impacting internet connectivity across Asia and the Middle East, were likely caused by a commercial ship accidentally damaging vital subsea lines. The International Cable Protection Committee states that the Bab el-Mandeb Strait's shallow waters make the cables vulnerable to maritime incidents. While initial concerns of sabotage have diminished, repairs to the severed cables, including SEA-ME-WE-4, IMEWE, FALCON GCX, and Europe India Gateway, could take weeks. Despite speculation of Houthi involvement, there is currently no evidence of hostile intent. The restoration process is expected to be complex and prolonged due to the need for specialized cable ships and regional geopolitical factors.